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Soldier for Life Update

Friday January 17, 2014

What is it?

The U.S. Army’s strategic imperative of sustaining the premier all volunteer Army will succeed or fail based on how well the veterans reintegrate back into their communities and tell their Army story to future generations of Soldiers.

The Soldier for Life program is based on the Soldier lifecycle. Soldiers start strong, serve strong, and reintegrate strong, and ultimately remain strong as Army ambassadors to their communities. The Soldier for Life concept is a holistic approach to this entire cycle, which ensures veterans connect to resources and their communities as they make the important transition from active duty back to the Army Reserve, National Guard or become civilian leaders.

What has the Army done?

The Army implemented programs throughout the Soldier lifecycle so our veterans remain Army Strong. Our Soldiers start strong with a positive image of the Army profession and connected to future employers through the Partnership for Youth Success program. They serve strong in their military occupation specialty (MOS) and as leaders using the Army Career Tracker and Credentialing Opportunities Online tools to manage their careers and self-development.

Soldiers reintegrate strong into the Army Reserve, National Guard or out of the Army using the improved Army Career and Alumni Program; leveraging a single Hero 2 Hired website to find employment and using a network of Army mentors across America. The Soldiers remain Army Strong as veterans, serving as business, government, and community leaders and as ambassadors for the Army.

What continued efforts does the Army have planned for the future?

Soldier for Life will continue to lead the way in connecting our transitioning Soldiers to their communities and the employment, education, and health resources made available to the veterans through government, for-profit, and non-profit organizations. It will inculcate the Soldier for Life ethos into the current force, preparing the Soldiers today to be lifelong members of the Army community as veterans. Soldier for Life continues to work with TRADOC to develop and expand credentialing opportunities and apprenticeships, improving the existing capability and making the Soldiers more competitive in the civilian job market during transition. Ultimately, Soldiers become veterans more “career ready” and better prepared than ever before to thrive as civilians and Soldiers for Life.

Why is this important to the Army?

The long term sustainability of the premier all volunteer Army depends on taking care of all Soldiers, both past and present. This also supports successful re-structuring as the Soldiers continue to transition out of the Army, and is a tremendous opportunity for communities to strengthen themselves using the veteran talent. Soldier for Life helps veterans bridge the gap from service through reintegration into the communities. It is here that their Army Story becomes a legacy that perpetuates the proud traditions of the U.S. Army. “Once a Soldier, Always a Soldier…a Soldier for Life.”

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